Leadership Accelerator 2025
Leadership Accelerator was established to help parish priests fulfill this higher calling by learning to live and lead from overflow instead of overwhelm.
The Gap
While seminary education provides priests with essential biblical, theological, and historical knowledge, there is a gap. Seminarians are generally not taught how to be leaders or apostles. The Leadership Accelerator provides experienced guides who serve as trusted advisers to grow Orthodox clergy into leaders, so that priests can both care for and lead their parishes more effectively without sacrificing the values that matter most. We call this the “Double Win.”
The Program
- Three Live Retreats Per Year for Two Years
- Group Coaching Sessions
- Individual Coaching Sessions
Retreat Schedule
All retreats start on Monday with an informal dinner at 6 PM at an off-site restaurant. We recognize that travel schedules or delays are always an issue, so there are no formal events on Monday nights. However, the time with other priests and coaches is important and valuable, so please make this part of your travel plans.
On Tuesday and Wednesday we’ll start with breakfast at 8 AM. Our intensive content, reflection and workshops will start at 9 AM and end at 4 PM, with breaks and lunch during that time. We’ll gather again for dinner at 6 or 6:30 PM.
Thursday is focused on group coaching and application. Breakfast is at 8 AM, followed by the intensive from 9 AM – 12 noon. Lunch will be take-away — we encourage to stay on site and eat if you can, but you can take lunch to-go in order to be on time for your flight.
Since the retreats are in different locations, the suggested earlier flight times are listed below.
What's Included
Please note that your program fee includes your room and all meals, with the exception of Monday night dinner for the June and October retreats, as well as all curriculum and required books. You are responsible for your travel to and from each venue, the Monday night dinner in June and October, and any alcoholic beverages at off-site restaurants.
February 17-20, 2025
Elijah's Harbor
Greeneville, TN
Due to a recent fire at the Whitestone Inn, we’ve moved our February retreat to Elijah’s Harbor. Named after the prophet, Elijah’s Harbor exists to serve Christian families, pastors, ministry workers, and leaders by providing a place for respite and renewal resulting in stronger relationships with God, family, and others — a “sanctuary for the spirit.”
Elijah’s Harbor sits high in the mountains of East Tennessee surrounded by 200 acres of private fields, forests, and streams. The main conference building includes a movie theater, coffee bar, and 1950s ice cream parlor, and a game room in addition to a large dining room and places to meet. There’s a heated swimming pool for those willing to take the plunge in February weather.
How to Get to Elijah's Harbor
Elijah’s Harbor is located at 590 Pumpkin Bloom Lane, Greeneville TN 37743. You have multiple airport options:
- The closest airport is TRI located in the Bristol-Kingsport Johnson City, Tennessee region. This is approximately one hour from Elijah’s Harbor, with American and Delta airlines providing service.
- If you have already purchased tickets to McGhee-Tyson Airport in Knoxville (TYS), plan on 90 minutes of travel time from the airport to the venue. Flights are available on the following airlines: Allegiant, American, Delta and United.
- Another option is AVL (Asheville, North Carolina), which is 1 hour and 50 minutes away.
June 16-19, 2025
Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa
Avon, CO
Our June retreat will be located at the The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa in Avon, Colorado. This beautiful mountain retreat is about a 3-hour drive from Denver International Airport, so we recommend not scheduling return flights until 5:30 PM or later.
October 20-23, 2025
St. Iakavos Retreat Center
Kansasville, WI
Retreat 3 will take place at the St. Iakovos Retreat Center in Kansasville, Wisconsin, a 137-acre retreat facility located in the western corner of Kenosha county in beautiful Kansasville, WI. Settled on the 11-acre Friendship Lake with over 50 acres of pinewood forest, the St. Iakovos Retreat Center is a unique facility offering a quiet setting for overnight retreats and camps as well as a joyful environment for celebrations such as weddings and family reunions. Activities available on the grounds include softball, soccer, basketball, grass and sand volleyball court, tennis, hay wagon rides, boating, outdoor pool, trail walking and hiking, campfires, barn visits, and animal feedings.
Hi, I’m David Limiero.
I’ve been on the front lines of ministry as a pastor and later as a leader in a faith- based nonprofit ministry for more than 26 years. The first decade and a half of ministry was fruitful and fulfilling. I grew, and so did the churches I led — and not just in numbers. I saw hundreds of people come into new relationship with Jesus and hundreds more who were already believers grow deeper in their faith.
In 2003 I fulfilled a long-time calling when my family and I moved to Bakersfield, California to start a new congregation from scratch. It was the dream of a lifetime — and also the hardest thing I had ever done. Along the way, I took on a leadership role in a national church planting ministry and despite efforts to find a leader to replace me as a pastor came up short.
Ten years after launching and growing that new church, I had reached a breaking point. I was overwhelmed, burnt out, and stuck. It was out of that season of overwhelm that I started on my own journey towards a life of balance and overflow. I’ve been living and leading differently ever since.
Most recently I’ve served as a Performance Coach with Full Focus and the founder of Edens View Coaching and Consulting. My wife and I cofounded Eagles Rest, where we provide sabbatical services and debriefing to workers serving cross culturally. I also cofounded Journey Appalachia, a retreat-based ministry focused on bringing ancient spiritual practices and contemporary leadership together, and serve as the Director of Soul Care Coaching for Covenant Connections.
I’ve served churches in Colorado, North Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, and California and spent 15 years working with a global church planting agency. I hold a Master of Divinity from Emmanuel Christian Seminary and graduated from the University of Colorado with a BA in International Affairs.
I’ve now spent over 30 years gaining extensive experience in coaching and consulting leaders through personal and professional challenges, helping them create sustainable systems that will grow along with them. I’ve been married to my wife Jan for 33 years and have three grown children and a brand-new granddaughter. I live in Kingsport, Tennessee where I enjoy hiking, kayaking, and traveling the country in our teardrop trailer.
Scott Caldwell
I look forward to meeting you. One way or another, I have been leading leaders for 27 years through my work in the non-profit and ministry space. Along the way I’ve gained sincere appreciation for the lessons that failure can bring…learned the importance of empowering a team…felt the impact of strength-based leadership and experienced the power of an agreed-upon, shared vision. Each of these form the framework of my coaching relationships and I sincerely enjoy building capacity in leaders to achieve their personal and organizational goals.
I was born in St. Petersburg, Florida…adopted three months later…raised in Columbia, South Carolina and attended the University of Tennessee – Knoxville as well as Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. I entered college with dreams of being a physician and after three years God made it clear He had different plans and was calling me to ministry. I’ve served on church staff and as an elder, but my primary vocation has been in the non-profit, parachurch space through a global ministry to adolescents called Young Life. I am currently experiencing God’s call on my life as a “strategic mission leader who enjoys loving and leading a team toward something beautiful.”
I live in Franklin, Tennessee with my wife Susan and our three children (Katy Ann – 20, Austin – 18 and Chesney -12). I enjoy golf, fantasy baseball, University of Tennessee sports, St. Louis Cardinals baseball and Formula 1 Racing and, no kidding…several times a week I’m told I look like a certain famous actor.
Our Thanks!
The content of Leadership Accelerator was developed by Michael Hyatt, the founder and Chairman of Full Focus and architect of the Full Focus Planner, as part of the now-defunct Business Accelerator program. Michael is a Deacon in the Antiochan Orthodox Church and a personal friend to His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael. Michael believes strongly in leadership development for Orthodox priests and has graciously allowed Edens View Coaching and Consulting to license and customize his content for Orthodox clergy. We are grateful for his generous support!
What Our Clients Are Saying
Don’t just take it from us, let our customers do the talking!
"I’ve worked with other business coaches before but never have I experienced a coach like David. Every single time we meet, I walk away with a mindset (mind-blowing) shift and a practical strategy. I’m becoming a better business leader because of David’s support, knowledge, and guidance."
Renee T.
"The relationship between motherhood and work is one of the trickiest balancing acts there is for women. Climbing the corporate ladder is an uphill battle for many moms like me who are reentering the workforce. Fortunately, I was lucky to find a mentor and coach like David. He is a very passionate and understanding person, always ready to go out of his way to do something good for others. His guidance and support uplifted my confidence. I think of him as a man of integrity with high moral standing. I truly appreciate the time and efforts he has given me to build confidence and gain experience."
Asmita K.
"David is one of a kind. A kind and compassionate coach. He listens and guides you to a light bulb moment in the path that you need to take. If you have an opportunity to work with David, I would take it."